I don’t know what it is about the start of a new year, but I am always eager to make it the best year for my business ever. To that end, I typically think about all of the things that I’d like to do differently and better, but this year, I decided to write them down and actually resolve to do them – and not give up or conveniently forget about them by January 20.

Below are a list of marketing-related resolutions – some of which are actually mine – and others I included based on the things I see my small business clients struggle with from year to year.

Get serious about blogging

An active blog is good for your business for so many reasons, but all of them lead back Google. Google’s search algorithm rewards websites that are frequently updated. If you link your Google+ account to your blog, your authorship rank will increase as your blog posts get shared and commented on. This turns into a nice feedback loop of sorts, but ultimately, it makes you more visible online.

Commit to a blogging schedule you can live with – once a week is ideal – and create an editorial calendar of topics with due dates. Set aside an hour every week to write a blog post (it’ll go faster as you get better at blogging), and publish it at the same time and on the same day every week.

Review your SEO strategy

Because the Web is constantly changing, search engine optimization (SEO) is constantly changing as well. You really have to review your strategy every year. Look at your Google Analytics. Are the keywords you are optimized for still relevant? Are you taking advantage of long-tail keywords? Do you mention your location to draw in local traffic?

Reinvigorate your email newsletter

Ever since social media took off as a marketing tool a few years ago, email newsletters became the ugly duckling of the marketing tool kit. Email has an advantage over social media, though: it goes right to your audience, something we cannot say is true for the post you just put on Facebook.

Want to improve your newsletter? Keep it short, keep it relevant, keep it useful, keep it fun, and send it out regularly, whether it’s every week, every month, or once a quarter.

Figure out your best social media channel

If you have been using social media for marketing for a while now – at least a year – you know by now which channel drives the most engagement and visitors to your website. Double down on your social media marketing on that channel, and rethink your strategy on the other channels – or if you should even be using all of them.

Let’s say you are getting zero traction on Facebook but tons on Instagram and Twitter. Shut down Facebook and focus on the other two. It’s OK to shut down your Facebook page, by the way. I shut mine down a couple of months ago, and, amazingly, the world did not come to an end.

Gather testimonials and success stories

I am embarrassed to admit it, but this item has been on my to-do list for over a year. Review all of your projects from the past year and reach out to your clients asking for their take on the challenge, solution, and result and why they liked working with you. Turn the information you gather into success stories and add the strongest quotes to your website.

What are your marketing resolutions for 2014?

Resolve to let Web.com help with all your online marketing needs in 2014. Check out our marketing services for small businesses.

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